Overhead loader for vehicles



July 17, 1951 1'. E. WES'TALL ,6 4"

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. v OVERHEAD'LOADER FOR VEHICLES Filed Dec. 19, 1947 7 Shoets-Sheet 6 Qwumoloo:

THOMAS E. WESTALL July 1-7, 1951 T. E. WESTALL Filed Dec. 19, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 y? [:f/O 53 2 8 257 7 238 fig /0 14/ Z36 237 260 INVENTOR, z THOMAS E. WESTALL ATTORNEY Patented July 17, 1951 OVERHEAD LOADER FOR VEHICLES Thomas E. Westall, Marion, N. 0., assignor to Marion Machine Company, Marion, N. 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application December 19, 1947, Serial No. 792,759

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanism adapted to be mounted on a tractor or any suitable vehicle and providing scoop means disposed in front'of the tractor with booms. and levers mounted on each side of the tractor and having hydraulically operated means for forcing the scoop into material to be moved and for raising the scoop up over the tractor and inverting the scoop at the rear of the tractor and dumping material into a waiting truck or other vehicle. This type of mechanism is often referred to as an overhead loader and is adapted to do excavation work and load the material as it excavates the same.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved mounting for pivotally supporting the booms of an overhead loader of the type described comprising a lower framework adapted to be pivotally secured to the rear axle of a tractor or'the like and to project forwardly beneath the mid-portion of said tractor and to an intermediate portion to which the booms are pivotally connected. The framework has upstanding members on the front end thereof provided with planar surfaces which are adapted to be engaged by the booms when they are lowered to a forward position and these upstanding members are connected to the frame of the tractor by means of links which are pivotally connected to the intermediate portions of pivoted arms whose front ends are resiliently engaged at the upper and lower surfaces thereof by compression springs supported by a member secured to the frame of the tractor, these compression springs serving to absorb shocks of the booms engaging the surfaces of said uprising members on the framework as the shock is transmitted to the frame of the tractor.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the type described wherein the booms are ofi-set at the point at which they are pivotally connected to the said framework and the rear ends of the booms are provided with resiliently mounted bumpers which are adapted to engage the lower framework as the booms are elevated to a substantially vertical position and in the course of which the scoop, which is pivotally connected to the booms by means of scoop arms, is moved to a position rearwardly of the tractor in an overhead loading operation. Thus, due to the resilient mounting at the front end of said framework and the resilient bumpers in the rear ends of the booms, the rocking movement imparted'to the framework which is pivotally supported by the rear 2 axle of the tractor is alternately absorbed by the compression springs disposed at the front of the tractor and is also absorbed by the bumpers disposed at the rear ends of the booms.

Some Of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus and showing the same associated with a tractor which is shown in phantom;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the scoop arms and scoop in a different position;

Figure3isaviewsimilartoFigures1and2 but showing both the booms and the scoop arms in a further raised position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to the three preceding figures but showing the parts in fully dumping position;

Figure 5 is a. top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 and omitting the cover which shields the driver of the tractor;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the two framework members which are secured beneath and project from each side of the tractor;

Figure 7 is an isometric view taken from substantially along the line 1-1 in Figure 5 and looking outwardly of the central remote portion of Figure 6 and showing the front and rear frames in overlapping or assembled position;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 88 in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view looking upwardly and taken along the line 9-9 in Figure 1; a

Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic system.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral l0 indicates a tractor having rear wheels II and II and front wheels l2 and 12'. The tractor also has a rear axle l3, a seat II, for the driver, a steering wheel l5, and a. conventional gear shift lever Hi. The tractor also has a conventional bed frame l8 on which is mounted an internal combustion engine, not shown, which is connected in a conventional manner to the rear wheels of the tractor for driving the same. It is with a conventional tractor of this nature or with any other suitable vehicle that the overhead loading mechanism is adapted to be associated.

In order to support the overhead loading 'mechanism, suitable longitudinal frame members 20 and 2|! are provided, the rear ends of which have brackets 2| and 2| provided with suitable openings in which pins 22 and 22' are mounted, said pins also penetrating suitable coinciding holes 23 and 23' in the bars 29 and 2|! respectively (Figures 1. 3 and 4). These stub shafts 22 and 22' are set in position by means of suitable set screws 28 and 28'.

Penetrated by these shafts 22 and 22' are members l9 and I9 having a horizontally disposed portion 24 and 24' respectively thereon, which portions have vertically disposed holes therein which are penetrated by the free ends of U-bolts 25 and 25' which encircle the axle housing |3 and I3 on each side of the tractor and slidably penetrate the holes in members 24 and 24' and have suitable nuts 25a on the lower ends thereof for supporting the rear end of the frame bars 20 and 20', respectively.

The frame members 20 'and 20' project forwardly and have reinforcing plates 39 and 34' secured to their proximate surfaces and also have uprising reinforcing plates 3| and 3| and secured to the bar 29 and the plates 30 and 3|. and to bar 20' and plates 30' and 3| are bear ing blocks 32 and 32' which have holes 33 and 33' passing horizontally therethrough (Figure 6). Also, secured between the proximate edges of the frame bars 20 and 20' is a plate 35 having a suitable hole 36 therethrough for access to the drain plug of the engine and this plate is surrounded by a reinforcing rib 31 for rigidity, and it also has on the lower surface thereof a suitable reinforcing rib 38 for reinforcing purposes, which rib is secured by welding.

Welded to the front end of frame bars 20.and 20', respectively, are the uprising members 4|! and 40' (Figure 6) which at their upper ends have surfaces 4| and 4|, respectively, on which the booms to be later described will rest in their lowermost positions. On the proximate upper surfaces of the members 4|! and 40' are welded plates 43 and 43', respectively, the plates being welded to suitable substantially parallel ribs 44 and 45 and 44' and 45', respectively. These plates are penetrated by suitable stub shafts 46 and 45' which also pass through the links 41 and 48 and 41' and 48' respectively, as well as through the plates 43 and 43' to pivotally support these plates 41, 49, 41' and 48', respectively.

The lower ends of the plates 41 and 48, 41' and 48' respectively lie on opposite sides of links 50 and 50' respectively and are pivoted thereto by means of pivot bolts 5| and 5| respectively. Secured on opposite sides of the bed plate I8 of the tractor, are bars52 and 52', respectively. The front ends of these bars 52 and 52' being secured to the plate "I by suitable screws 53 passing through suitable holes 55 and 55' respectively (Figure 6) and being threadably imbedded in the base l8 of the tractor.

' The rear ends of these bars 52 and 52 have suitable upright angle pieces 58 and 55' respectively provided with suitable holes 51 and 51' respectively through which suitable screws 58 (Figures 1. 3. 2 and 4) are passed to threadably secure a suitable inverted U-shaped frame bar 60 at its lower ends in position. The U- shaped frame bar 60 has the front end of a protecting cover 62 riveted thereto by means of a plurality of rivets 63. The rear end of the cover 62 is likewise secured to a similar inverted U-shaped bar 64 and the lower ends of the U- shaped bar 64 are secured to suitable plates 55 on each side of the tractor by means of bolts 61.

Between the angle brackets 55 and 55' and 4 the exterior surfaces of the bars 52 and 52' are welded suitable blocks 14 and 1!! and to the exterior of these angle. plates 55 and 55' are suitably secured plates H and 1| which project outwardly and forwardly and stand in spaced relation to the blocks 19 and 14' and the bars 52 and 52'- The plates 1| and 1| are penetrated by stub shafts 14 and 14' "on which the rear ends of members ill and 5! are pivoted.

On the exterior surface of bars 52 and 52' are welded plates 15 and 15' (Figures 6, 7 and 8) which have welded thereto suitable vertically disposed U-shaped brackets 16 and 16', the horizontal end portions of which are penetrated by bolts 11 and 11'. The bolt 11 has slidably mount ed thereon a sleeve 19 which has outwardly projecting portions 18 on each side thereof which are slidably engaged by notches in the forward ends of plates 89 and 80' welded to the forward ends of the links 50 and 59, respectively.

Mounted around the bolt 11 and above and below the sleeve 19 are compression springs 82 and 83 which constitute important features of the present invention and which tend to restrict upward and downward movement, respectively, of the free ends of the links 5|! and 55, as will be later explained. Mounted in the holes 33 and 33 are corresponding pivot pins 99, only one of which is shown (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4), on opposed ends of which laterally spaced, off-set side plates 9| on each of a pair of booms broadly designated at B and B are pivotally mounted. These plates 9| have suitable reinforcing ribs 93 on opposed sides thereof.

Between the plates 9| on opposed sides of the tractor), pins 14 and 14' 'are disposed (Figure 4) on which are oscillatably mounted one end 95 of corresponding piston rods 99 and 99 (Figures 1, 2 and 10) which project into corresponding cylinders 91 and 91' on opposed sides of the tractor. The cylinder 91 is shown only in Figure 10, although it is to be understood that the structure on opposed sides of the tractor ID is symmetrical. It will also be observed in Figure 10 that the cylinders 91 and 91 have respective pistons 98 and 98' mounted for longitudinal sliding movement therein to which the inner ends of the respective piston rods 99 and 99 are connected.

Both of the cylinders 91 and 91 are identical and it will be observed in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 that the cylinder 91 has caps Hill and |0| mounted on the opposed ends thereof and which are provided with nipples I02 and I93, respectively,

. v by means of which hydraulic fluid can be ad mitted to either end of the cylinder 91.

It will be observed in Figure 7 that the boom B which is identical to the boom B except being opposite hand, is composed of side plates H3 and I21 and top and bottom plates 22 and I23- The laterally spaced off-set side plates 9| are welded to the lower or rear ends of the side plates I29 and I2 I.

It will be observed in Figure 9 that the back ends of the plates 9| associated with the boom B have a tubular member I21 therebetween and projecting rearwardly beyond the same when the booms B and B are in the forward or lowered position shown inFigures 1 and 2.

The tubular member I25 is welded between these'plates 9| and has disposed therein a compression spring [28 which surrounds a piston |29 having an enlarged portion or bumper I30 at its outer free end. The inner end of the tubular member |21 is closed by a plate |3| and the piston I29 has a limitin pin I32 projecting therethrough transversely thereof which limits its outward movement. This piston I29, the bumper I30 and its associated compression spring I26 constitute important features of the present invention and these serve as a shock absorber when the associated parts reach the position shown in Figure 4 and the bumpers I30 ene the side plates 29 and 20' Figure 6).

The plates at associated with the boom B are penetrated by a pin I35 (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4) on which the base of a cylinder MI is pivotally mounted, this base of the cylinder III having a nipple I40 extending therefrom which communicates with the interior of the cylinder Ml.

Referring to Figure 10, it will be observed that the cylinders I and MI have respective pistons I43 and I43 mounted for longitudinal sliding movement therein and the free ends of these pistons (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) are provided with respective lugs I50 and E50 which are penetrated by respective bolts I52 and I52.

Since the parts on both sides of the tractor are identical, only those parts on the right-hand side thereof will be described in detail and the parts on the left-hand side thereof will bear the same reference characters with the prime notation added thereto.

The lug [50 of the piston I43 is straddled by a pair of arms I55 and a pair of arms I51, both pairs of arms I55 and I51 being pivotally mounted on the bolt !52. The arms I55 project downwardly and forwardly and are pivotallv mounted on a pin I65 (Figures 4 and 5) mounted in the boom B and penetrating the plates I20 and I2l thereof.

The links or arms I51 also project forwardly in Figures 1 and 2 and are pivotally mounted on a pin I15 penetrating plates I16 which project downwardly from the lower surface of a scoop arm S which is preferably of tubular construction and in rectangular cross-section. It will be observed in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 that the free end portion of the boom B extends at an angle relative to the rear portion thereof and the boom is reinforced by a reinforcing plate or bar I H which is su tably secured thereto as by welding.

The forward end of the boom B is composed of plates lBI havin reinforcing plates I53 welded to their remote vertical surfaces and the rear end of the scoop arm S is pivotally mounted between the plates IN on a bolt I30 carried by the plates I3I and H3. The side plates of the scoop arm S which are pivotally mounted on the bolt I30 are indicated at 20 I The scoop arms 5 and S project downwardly and forwardly in their normal position and their free ends are secured to a. scoop 205 by means of brackets 201 and 208 welded to the top wall of the scoop 205. which brackets have plates 2M and 2H and 2H! and 2I I, respectively, projecting upwardly and rearwardly therefrom which are penetrated by bolts 203 and 203, said bolts also penetrating the free or forward ends of the scoop arms S and S. The scoop 205 is provided with a cutting piece 205 along the lower front edge thereof in Figure I.

It has already been described how the plates 52 and 52' are secured to the front side portions of the bed plate I of the tractor. These plates 52 and 52' have respective holes 2I5 and 2I5' therethrough at their forward ends (Figure 6) which are penetrated by bolts 2" which secure the lower end of a tank frame 2 I8 to the forward ends of the plates 52 and 52'. The tank frame 2 I8 has an expansion tank 220 mounted therein (Fig- 5) and the tank frame is braced by bars HI and 22I' secured to the tank frame by means of bolts 222 and also to the bars 52 and 52' by means of the bolts 53. The bolts 53 likewise penetrate the bars 52 and 52 and are imbedded in the bed plate ll! of the tractor, these bolts 53 penetrating holes 55 and 55 in the bars 52 and 52' (Figure 6) as heretofore described.

The tank 220 (Figure 5) is provided with a fluid inlet openin which is closed by a, cap 229. Mounted on the bed plate of the tractor I0 is a support 235 which supports conventional manually operable valve mechanisms including housings 236 and 231 (Figure 10). The valves 236 and 231 have respective movable cores 238 and 23!! therein which are manipulated by links 240 and 2 (Figure 5) each of which is connected to a corresponding lever 243 pivotally mounted on a plate 246 secured to the tractor frame. The valve housing 231 has a. pipe 250 connected thereto which has branches 25I and 25I' (Figures 5 and 10) which are connected to the rear ends of the cylinders 91 and 91 by means of the corresponding nipples I03 and I03.

The valve housing 231 also has a pipe 253 extending therefrom which has branch pipes 254 and 254' extending therefrom and connected to the front ends of the boom cylinders 91 and 91' by means of the nipples I02 and I02'. The valve housing 236 has rising upwardly therefrom a pipe 256 which has branch pipes 251 and 251 which are connected to the rear ends of the scoop arm cylinders MI and MI by means of the nipples' I and I40.

Referring to Figure 10, it will be observed that the valve housing 236 has leading therefrom a pipe 260 which is connected intermediate the ends of a pipe 26I which extends from the valve housing 231 to one end of the expansion tank 220. Also, leading from the valve housing 231 is a pipe 263 which leads to one side of a pump 264 driven by a suitable power take-oil shaft 265 (Figure 5) extending from the front of the tractor. The intake side of the pump 264 has a pipe 266 connected thereto which is connected to the end of the expansion tank 220 remote from the end to which the pipe 26I is connected.

It is thus seen that I have provided an improved mounting for the overhead loader for absorbing the shocks as they are transmitted from the scoop 205, the scoop arms S and S and the booms B and B to the frame members 20 and 20' and the conventional bed frame I8.

It is evident that the compression springs 82 and 83 will absorb the shock transmitted to the bed frame I8 whenever the booms B and B are moved forwardly and downwardly from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 1, since the booms B and B then engage the surfaces 4| and M on the upper portions of the uprising members 40 and 40' and tend to move the front ends of the frame members 20 and 20 downwardly and this will, in turn, cause the links 41, 4B and 41, 48 (Figure 6) to transmit the shock of downward movement of the front ends of the frame members 20 and 20' to the arms 50 and 50' which are held inan optimum position by the compression springs 82 and 83.

On the other hand, when the scoop 205 moves from the position shown in Figure 1 through the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4, the bumpers I30 associated with each of the booms B and B' absorb the initial shock of rearward movement of the booms B and B as these bumpers I30 engage the corresponding frame members 20 and 20' and then both of the shock absorber means, including the bumper I30 and the compression springs 82 and 83 absorb the further shock of the booms B and B as the scoop 205 moves to the position shown in Figure 4, because then the front end of the frame members 20 and 20' can move upwardly because of the connections between the uprising members 40 and 40' and the booms B and B provided by the cylinders 91 and 91' and the corresponding piston. rods 99 and 99'.

It is evident that the shock absorbing bumpers I30 associated with each of the booms B and B' will also assist in throwing the booms forwardly when the scoop 205 reaches the position shown in Figure 3 after assuming the position in Figure 4 and so'as to assist in causing the booms B and B to move forwardly through the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 1.

I claim:

1. An improvement in an overhead loader adapted to be mounted on a, vehicle, said overhead loader having a first substantially horizontally dispo ed frame pivotally connected to the rear end of the vehicle and extending forwardly therefrom and also having at least one pivoted boom pivotally mounted intermediate the ends of the first frame and extending substantially forwardly of the first frame, said improvement comprising a second frame carried by the vehicle and disposed at a higher elevation than the first frame, a pivoted lever arm pivotally mounted on at least one side of the second frame, an upstanding member disposed adjacent the front end of the first frame at at least one side thereof and extending upwardly substantially beyond the horizontal plane of the second frame, a link pivotally connected to the upstanding member at one end thereof and depending from the upstanding member and being pivotally connected at its other end intermediate the ends of said lever arm, a substantially U-shaped shock absorber bracket fixed to the second frame adjacent the free end of said lever arm, a pair of axially spaced compression springs extending between the legs of the U-shaped bracket and the proximate ends of the compression springs resiliently engaging opposed upper and lower surfaces of free end of the lever arm, said boom being adapted to strike the upper end of the upstanding member upon the boom being lowered, whereby upon the boom being lowered against the upper end of said upstanding member, the shock thereof will be transmitted through the link and lever arm to the compression springs to thus be cushioned thereby as the shock is transmitted to the second frame.

2. An improvement in an overhead loader adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, said overhead loader having a first substantially horizontally disposed frame pivotally connected to the rear end of the vehicle and extending forwardly therefrom and also having at least one pivoted boom pivotally mounted intermediate the ends of the first frame and exending substantially forwardly of the first frame, said improvement comprising a second frame carried by the vehicle and disposed at a higher elevation than the first frame, a pivoted lever arm pivotally mounted on at least one side of the second frame, an upstanding member disposed adjacent the front end of the first frame at at least one side thereof and extending upwardly substantially beyond the horizontal plane of the second frame, a link pivotally connected to the upstanding member at one end thereof and depending from the upstanding member and being pivotally connected at its other end intermediate the ends of said lever arm, a substantially all-shaped shock absorber bracket fixed to the second frame adjacent the free end of said lever arm, a pair of axially spaced compression springs extending between the legs of the U-shaped bracket and the proximate ends of the compression springs resiliently engaging opposed upper and lower surfaces of the free end of the lever arm, said boom being adapt-' ed to strike the upper end of the upstanding member upon the boom being lowered, whereby upon the boom being lowered against the upper end of said upstanding member, the shock thereof will be transmitted through the link and lever arm to the compression springs to thus be cushioned thereby as the shock is transmitted to the second frame, a spring loaded bumper on the rear end of said boom and being adapted to engage the upper surface of the first frame forwardly of the point at which the first frame is pivotally connected to the rear end of the vehicle to thereby partially absorb the shock of the boom transmitted to the vehicle as it is elevated to operating position for emptying the contents of the overhead loader and whereby the shock resulting therefrom will be additionally absorbed by the compression springs disposed at opposed upper and lower surfaces of the free end of said lever arm, and also whereby the sudden impact of the rear end of the boom against the upper surface of the first frame will tend to jar the front end thereof upwardly momentarily and then downwardly as the full weight of the boom is transmitted to the first frame to thus alternate the pressure exerted on the upper and lower compression springs successively with movement of the boom.

3. An improvement in an overhead loader adapted to be mounted on a tractor or the like, said overhead loader having a pair of transversely spaced pivoted booms disposed at opposed sides of the tractor and also having a pair of forwardly extending arms pivotally connected to the forward ends of the pivoted booms and on the free ends of which a suitable earth moving element is secured and also having a first fluid operated ram mounted on each of the booms and being connected to the corresponding arms for swinging the same about the free ends of the booms, said overhead loader also having a second fluid operated ram pivotally connected at one end thereof to each of the booms for transmitting movement to said booms, said improvement comprising a first subframe disposed below the vehicle, means pivotally connecting the rear end of said first subframe to the rear end of the vehicle, the first subframe having an upstanding abutment on each side thereof, a second subframe secured to the vehicle at a higher elevation than the first subframe and upwardly beyond which said abutments extend,a lever arm pivotally connected at its rear end to each side of the. second subframe-and extending forwardly therefrom, a link pivotally connected to each of said abutments and extending downwardly therefrom and also being pivotally connected at its lower end to the corresponding lever am, one end ofeach of the second rams being pivotally connected to the upstanding abutment at the front end of the first subframe at each side 9 thereof, a bracket secured to the second subframe and straddling the free front end of each of the lever arms, a pair of axially spaced compression springs carried by each of said brackets and engaging opposed upper and lower surfaces of the corresponding lever arm, each of said booms being pivotally mounted at its' rear end on an intermediate portion of said first subframe and a resilient bumper on the rear end of each of said booms so positioned as to engage the upper surface of the first subframe upon the free ends of the booms being elevated to the limit of their upward movement whereby said resilient bumper will assist in absorbing the initial shock of each of the booms upon being elevated and whereby, upon the arms at the free ends of said booms being swung rearwardly'of the free ends of said booms in elevated position, the shock therefrom will be absorbed by the bumper and by the compression springs engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the lever arms by virtue of the second ram being connected to the front end of the firstsubframe at one end thereof and being connected to the booms atthe other ends thereof and also whereby upon the booms being lowered, they .will 38 engage the upper ends of the abutments and the THOMAS E. WESTALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,443,768 Stahl Jan. 30, 1923 1,505,195 Hansen Aug. 19, 1924 1,673,307 Best June 12, 1928 1,785,119 Gorsuch Dec. 16, 1930 2,128,650 Knoerzer Aug. 30, 1938 2,227,624 Benbow Jan. 7, 1941 2,413,096 Barker Dec. 24, 1946 2,427,968 Hoover Sept, 23, 1947 2,441,591 Owen May 18, 1948 

